System and method for providing auxiliary power by regeneration power management in mobile mining equipment

Abstract

A method for operating an ultracapacitor system used in a mining excavator powered by an power source. The method includes detecting whether a power from the power source is present. Next, a voltage level of the ultracapacitor system is measured if the power is not present. The measured voltage level is then compared with a minimum voltage level for the ultracapacitor system. If the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, auxiliary power is supplied from the ultracapacitor system to operate mining excavator systems. The auxiliary power may be used to power electronic systems and components such as computers, displays, control systems, gas insulated switchgear and lighting systems.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating an ultracapacitor system used in a mining excavator powered by a power source, comprising:
 detecting whether a power from the power source is present; and 
 based on detecting that the power is not present: 
 measuring a voltage level of the ultracapacitor system; 
 comparing a measured voltage level with a minimum voltage level for the ultracapacitor system; and 
 based on comparing that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate mining excavator systems. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  further including stopping operation of the mining excavator if the measured voltage is less than the minimum voltage level. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the ultracapacitor system is configured to provide approximately 8 hours of normal operation. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the minimum voltage level is 1500V. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1  wherein a nominal voltage for the ultracapacitor system is approximately 1800V. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising charging the ultracapacitor system with power drawn from the power source. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a connection to an electrical power grid and a diesel engine. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power source outputs three-phase alternating current with a minimum voltage of at least one kilovolt. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the minimum voltage is at least three kilovolts. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 monitoring a power draw of the mining excavator; and 
 based on monitoring that the power draw is above a maximum power level and that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying power from the power source and auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate the mining excavator. 
 
     
     
       11. A method for operating an ultracapacitor system used in a mining excavator powered by a power source, comprising:
 operating the mining excavator to provide a cyclic load; 
 charging the ultracapacitor system with power generated by the cyclic load during a regeneration interval; 
 detecting whether a power from the power source is interrupted; and 
 based on detecting that the power is interrupted: 
 measuring a voltage level of the ultracapacitor system; 
 comparing a measured voltage level with a minimum voltage level for the ultracapacitor system; and 
 based on comparing that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate mining excavator systems. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising charging the ultracapacitor system with power drawn from the power source. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a connection to an electrical power grid and a diesel engine. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the power source outputs three-phase alternating current with a minimum voltage of at least one kilovolt. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the minimum voltage is at least three kilovolts. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 11  further comprising:
 monitoring a power draw of the mining excavator; and 
 based on monitoring that the power draw is above a maximum power level and that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying power from the power source and auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate the mining excavator. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 11  further including stopping operation of the mining excavator if the measured voltage is less than the minimum voltage level. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 11  wherein the ultracapacitor system is configured to provide approximately 8 hours of normal operation. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 11  wherein the minimum voltage level is 1500V. 
     
     
       20. A method for operating an ultracapacitor system used in a mining excavator powered by a power source, comprising:
 monitoring a power draw from the power source of the mining excavator; and 
 based on monitoring that the power draw is above a maximum power level: 
 measuring a voltage level of the ultracapacitor system; 
 comparing a measured voltage level with a minimum voltage level for the ultracapacitor system; and 
 based on comparing that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying power from the power source and auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate the mining excavator.